Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

Xie Qingli frowned slightly. At this moment, the envoys from various countries should be accompanying the emperor to enjoy the scenery at Wanshou Terrace. What was Xiao Yan's intention in coming here alone? But thinking of Han Jue's life experience, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and she immediately turned and wanted to leave.

"Princess Zhaoning!"

Xiao Yan's voice was clear and melodious. He stopped three steps away, his sleeves drooping lightly as he performed a standard bow. "I am Nan Jing Xiao Yan. It is a great honor to meet the princess today."

Although he tried his best to restrain himself, the joy in his eyes was like ripples in the new spring water.

Seeing no way to avoid it, Xie Qingli could only bow slightly and said with a distant look, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Xiao Yan instinctively wanted to step forward, but stopped himself. His fingertips curled slightly, but his voice remained gentle, "Princess, there's no need to be so distant. Speaking of which... you and I are old friends."

He paused, a faint blush on the tip of his ear: "If the princess hadn't come to my rescue in Jiazhou, I would have died..."

A hint of doubt flashed in Xie Qingli's eyes. She carefully examined the man before her. Although he looked familiar, she was certain she had never seen this Prince Nanjing before, let alone saved his life. She said coldly, "Your Highness may have recognized the wrong person to save your life."

Xiao Yan raised his eyes, his gaze filled with anxiety: "I will never admit my mistake!" He paused for a moment, his voice unconsciously lowered: "Xiao Yun... strange bird... amulet..."

"That's you?!" Xie Qingli opened her eyes wide in shock. The person she rescued that day was clearly a stunning woman who called herself Xiao Yun. How could it be the Crown Prince of Nanjing in front of her?

Xiao Yan's cheeks flushed, and he nodded awkwardly. The absurdity of the dignified Crown Prince Nanjing disguising himself as a woman to escape was the most embarrassing part of his past that he hated to mention. But if he didn't reveal the truth, how could he possibly reunite with the savior he missed so much?

Xie Qingli calmed down his thoughts and his eyes regained their composure. "It's just a simple favor. Your Highness, there's no need to worry about it."

She took a half step back without leaving a trace, avoiding Xiao Yan's burning gaze: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will keep this matter a secret."

"No!" Xiao Yan suddenly stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fire. "Have you, Princess, heard about Nan Jing's plan to marry Dong Ling?"

His voice trembled slightly: "I came here to look for the princess. Ever since we parted in Jiazhou, I have been thinking about her all the time..."

He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly, "Xiao Yan fell in love with the princess at first sight and is willing to take the position of Crown Prince's wife. I wonder if the princess is willing to marry you?"

The sunlight filtered through the willow branches, casting mottled shadows on his handsome face, and his affectionate eyes were full of anticipation.

Xie Qingli's pupils suddenly shrank, and he was about to open his mouth to politely refuse, when he suddenly saw a goose-yellow figure flying out from behind the bushes like an arrow.

Xiao Yan stood by the lake, his whole mind focused on Xie Qingli. He was caught off guard and was hit by the figure, and both of them fell into the lake.

"thump--"

The water splashed everywhere, and ripples appeared on the pool of spring water.

Xie Qingli leaned over hastily to look, only to see the goose-yellow dress and white brocade robe tangled in the water, like two withered petals, slowly sinking to the bottom of the lake. Her heart was horrified; that was clearly Princess Fu'an!

"Princess!"

She screamed and was about to jump into the water to save him, but someone suddenly grabbed her calf tightly. Looking down, she saw it was Princess Fu'an's personal maid, Nong Ying.

"Princess, please don't go!" Nong Ying's eyes were red, and her voice was choked but hurried: "This is the princess's own choice... Please grant it..."

Xie Qingli's heart trembled, and he instantly understood Nong Ying's hint: Fu'an actually wanted to take this opportunity to marry Xiao Yan? But Fu'an clearly liked the eldest brother... How could she suddenly change her mind like this?

The lake gradually calmed down, but the two men still didn't emerge. Xie Qingli was extremely anxious, his voice trembling slightly: "Our lives are at stake! If Xiao Yan can't swim, won't they all..."

Nong Ying burst into tears and sobbed, "The princess said... life and death are determined by fate... no matter what the outcome... she is willing... please don't interfere..."

Xie Qingli's face turned pale with anger, and her fingertips dug deep into her palms. But if she rushed to save him now, not only would it ruin Fu'an's plan, but it would also entangle her with Xiao Yan. She suppressed her anger, pursed her lips, and said, "Wait another half cup of tea..."

She secretly made up her mind that if there was still no movement after half a cup of tea, she would immediately jump into the water to save the person, even if it meant Zui Fu An.

After receiving the promise, Nong Ying finally let go of her hand and stumbled to her feet. The two stood side by side by the lake, Nong Ying's tears falling like pearls from a broken string onto her clothes. They stared fixedly at the eerily calm lake, each breath stretching to an infinite length.

Underwater, Xiao Yan's shirt was tightly grasped by the woman. He was about to kick her away when he suddenly remembered hearing Xie Qingli exclaim "Princess" when he fell into the water. His movements froze, and he had to suppress his anger and pry open the slender fingers.

Despite choking on the water and unconscious, her fingers remained as firm as iron pincers. Xiao Yan's chest burned with pain, and as his breath neared his end, he struggled several times. But the hands remained entangled, even the belt of his clothes was inexplicably knotted.

As a last resort, Xiao Yan could only drag the woman and swim towards the surface of the water.

"Wow--"

Xiao Yan emerged from the water, gasping for breath. The woman in his arms was pale and barely breathing.

He looked up and saw a group of ladies hurrying along the lakeshore. Princess Zhaoning and a palace maid were talking to them anxiously.

Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly turned cold, a sinister glint flashing across them. He was clearly being tricked! If this woman was truly a princess, Emperor Yingtian would surely seize the opportunity to force her upon him. After all, Emperor Yingtian would naturally prefer to use his own bloodline to seal this marriage, rather than the granddaughter of the Jiang family...

Xiao Yan stared at the unconscious woman in his arms, his eyes gleaming coldly, wishing he could throw her back to the bottom of the lake. But now, with so many people watching, and his clothes tightly grasped by those hands...

"Damn it!" He cursed in his heart, but he had no choice but to drag the woman towards the shore. Every stroke felt like swallowing a bitter pill.

Xie Qingli, on the shore, finally felt relieved when she saw the two of them surface. She glanced at Chen Xing, who was leading Concubine Li Shu and the others, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Princess Fu'an seemed innocent, but she was of royal blood after all. This arrangement was very interconnected.

But how could Xiao Yan not know that he had been plotted against? Could Fu An really be happy in such a forced marriage?

"Quick! Help the princess up!"

The maids hurriedly dragged the two of them ashore. Xie Qingli didn't think any more and rushed forward to check.

Xiao Yan sat soaking wet on the shore, his face gloomy. Princess Fu'an, though unconscious, still clutched Xiao Yan's clothes tightly with both hands. Her pretty face was pale and her breath was weak.

"Your Highness, please let go... You are saved..." Nong Ying knelt beside her, stroking Princess Fu'an's hand with tears streaming down her face.

Surprisingly, the unconscious Fuan actually loosened her grip. Xie Qingli then saw clearly that due to excessive force, two of her nails had been broken off, and bright red blood was oozing from her fingertips.

Xie Qingli was horrified. Princess Fu'an was actually so devoted to Xiao Yan? That delicate girl, who usually cried when a needle pricked her, was actually willing to go to such lengths just to marry him?

Without giving it any further thought, she leaned over to check Fu'an's pulse. The faint beat from her fingertips frightened her. She deftly pressed her chest, pried open her tightly clenched teeth, and leaned over to breathe...